Ears On

Like Adam and Eve, an iPod eventually nano comes to the realization that it must cover its nakedness. Guilt no doubt plays a role. After all, the nano feels embarrassed when scratched, knowing how its manufacturer rushed it into production without taking durability into account. And it must feel the glare of the bright spotlight of conspicuous consumption. Among the many products rushing in to clothe the modest little player is the iSkin Duo. Mine was a nano-sized case in turquoise and lime, but there's an iSkin to fit just about any iPod model, in a variety of bright colors, bringing touches of flamboyance to the white-or-black dichotomy of iPod design.

The iSkin is beautiful, the silicone pleasantly soft to the touch. It doesn't add more than a few fractions of an inch to the player's dimensions, unlike some hard cases I've used. The clickwheel is covered by the inner layer of silicone, optionally supplemented with a detachable circle of translucent polycarbonate. You can easily operate the player with or without it. There is also a polycarbonate insert to protect the screen. It's easy to read through.

The "Concerto Fantasy for Two Timpanists and Orchestra" by Philip Glass was playing on my desktop system (not the iPod) while I was getting to know the iSkin. I mention this only because it could just as easily been called "Comic Interlude for Confused Toy Critic Struggling with New Accessory." Never have my fumbling humiliations been so aptly serenaded.

First I couldn't figure out how to open the case. The outside edge had no hinges or slits. My fingers worked the seams, desperately looking for a way in. After 10 minutes I finally figured out that the hole for the screen is the only entry point for the player. I pushed in my fingers and removed the nano-shaped cardboard insert. Then I started pushing in the nano.

Along the way I inadvertently sent the player into diagnostic mode. This unfamiliar menu might have exerted a certain fascination if I'd gotten there intentionally. But at the time it seemed an unwelcome detour. Googling my way out, I discovered reset was the only way back to normality. (Please note: The word "normalcy" was inadvertently coined by President Warren G. Harding during the presidential campaign of 1920. Only third-rate TV news people use it.)

Then I set about removing the belt clip. The last thing I need when I'm walking the streets of New York is a "mug me" invitation attached to my belt. Those who do use belt clips will love this one. It rotates, so you can operate the player vertically, then slide it to a horizontal position that makes it easier to get your hand in your pocket, cross your legs, or perambulate.

Most sizes of iPod are covered in the iSkin line, from the video down to the shuffle. There are iSkins for non-Apple products, including the iRiver H100 music player and Sony PlayStation Portable. Also covered are the Apple iBook laptop and the Apple desktop keyboard.

Price: $30.

Mark Fleischmann is the author of the annually updated book Practical Home Theater. For links to the latest edition, visit www.quietriverpress.com.